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5 things you must experience in Iceland

Iceland is a surreal land where you arrive and wonder whether you have instead landed on the moon.

It’s a country made of geothermal waters, glacial pools, black sand beaches, turf houses and purple flower fields stretching beyond the horizon. In summer, the sun stays up well past midnight and the country is bathed in a perpetual, lingering twilight; while the depths of winter offers barely 4-5 hours of daylight.

Some fun facts to set the scene? Iceland runs on nearly 100% sustainable green energy and the streets are heated by geothermal water, so they do not become slippery in winter. Icelanders only ever refer to each other on a first name basis; even in the phone directory. And there are no mosquitoes (none).

Here are 5 things you must experience in Iceland.

1. Wander the streets of Reykjavik

First things first, you must explore Iceland’s capital (and the world’s northernmost capital) Reykjavik. It is a beautiful, calm city with a village-like feel. Be sure to visit the Hallgrímskirkja lookout for a birds-eye-view of the colourful town roofs, wander the main shopping street Laugavegur and eat with the local hipsters at The Laundromat Café.

2. Enrol in Elf School

But, seriously!

Iceland has a firm belief in the existence of elves, dwarfs, gnomes, faeries and other mystical beings. So much so, that it is government policy to build roads around rocks and land where folklore are believed to inhabit, so as to not disturb them.

Make your way to Hafnarfjörður, a short drive from Iceland’s capital Reykjavík. This town is considered to be the largest settlement of the huldufólk (hidden people) and rich in elf and spirit populations, with more than twenty types of dwarfs, four types of gnomes and all manner of elfin beings.

Here you’ll find Elf School, run by local Icelandic Erla Stefánsdóttir. On a short walking tour around town, Erla will point out particular rock formations and other landmarks inhabited by folklore.

3. Immerse yourself in Bláa lónið: The Blue Lagoon.

Sitting at a constant 38 degrees celsius and rich in silica, sulphur and a bundle of other healing minerals, there’s no wonder The Blue Lagoon is on many bucket lists.

Sitting between two continents where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet, The Blue Lagoon holds six million litres of geothermal seawater that is renewed every 40 hours,.

The seawater originates 2000 metres beneath the ground where it is 240 degrees Celsius and thirty-six times the pressure of the earth’s surface. It’s idyllic to sink into this milky, opaque pale blue water.

A 50 minute drive from downtown Reykjavik.

4. Spot the Turf Houses

Dotted along the highways are pockets of turf hourses. Make sure you stop to check these out. Turf houses were a product of difficult and dramatic Icelandic climate – they offer far superior insulation than typical houses. Some turf houses are open to the public – making for great photo opportunites!

5. Visit Jökulsárlón

On the edge of Vatnajökull National Park sits large glacial lake Jökulsárlón; a surreal masterpiece of nature.

Having featured in no less than four Hollywood movies, including the James Bond series and :Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, it may seem familiar.

Luminous glass icebergs float in an expansive azure blue lagoon; the reflection of the icebergs a mirrored kaleidoscope of milk and transparent ice crystals.

Dark, mythical, arctic, rugged and calm, Iceland is many things, and will be sure to steal your heart.

Comments

I went in Dec and it was cold but if you have the right gear it’s fine, but there are only a few daylight hours. I still absolutely loved it and can’t wait to go back. I didn’t bother with the Blue Lagoon as i was told by a local that it’s actually man made and right by a power station. I would recommend venturing further afield and going on some of the trips towards the south of the island!

No matter how I swing it I’m not going to get there on my first trip to Europe but it will definitely be included in a future trip. First things first is Norway which has been at the top of my bucketlist for as long as I can remember

Oh me oh my. This is such a great condensed list of Iceland’s many wonders. I’ve got a long layover in Iceland this September, so I’m hoping to wander Reykjavik a bit. I’ll probably have to return again to spend more time exploring the rest of the country though.

Folklore, history, and nature are always fun! Adding some folklore flavor sounds fun. Might try to do for other trips also. Sure, folklore can be silly, but it also gives historical flavor to an area….diving back into older beliefs. Beliefs seem to be a universal human trait. Thanks for the advice!

We don’t believe in elves! Sorry but tourism marketing people have spread this ‘50% of Icelanders believe in elves’ bull far too wide. Otherwise these tips are alright! We’d love it if Brooke would really visit! 🙂

I totally agree! Spent a week there last year, driving the ring road around the island.
Also don’t forget the Golden Circle and definitely the Northern Lights!!!
If you need tips for chasing the Northern Lights visit my blog, and don’t hesitate to contact me!
Cheers, Safe Travel 🙂

Just arrived back home in Sweden this morning from a magical week in Iceland, and yours was the first post I saw in my mailbox. What a surprise! I could add a gazillion things to your list. It is a place to discover and to savor. Did you know that 50% of all Icelanders believe in elves?

I had no idea that Iceland operated almost entirely on renewable energy! That’s actually really cool. And ELF SCHOOL sounds so fun! Here in Ireland, a lot of people believe in that stuff out West, but there’s mostly people who think it’s ridiculous making the laws, and a lot of roads only just recently have been built over fairy hills. There was a big government battle over one near Galway a few years ago! haha

Iceland is gorgeous – and just like a moonscape! Love it. Hot springs, simultaneous sunsets and sunrises at 1 am in the summer, and.. puffins! Ha. Iceland is a must, and a great stop on the way from the US -> Europe or vice versa.

I have very special memories of my trip to Iceland last year. Everywhere your turn there is something stunning to see – a jaw dropping waterfall, boiling sulfuric mud pots, lave fields…. Plus the locals are so friendly and the food is delicious!